Two Big Bois Meet

It was a perfectly good day to be lost on. With the early evening sky painted with clouds and the first spring peepers singing a chorus from the river, spring was on its way. Yet the temperature begged to differ. Perhaps it would not have been so bad if he had the faintest idea where he was lost at. Even the river he'd been following might disappear if he let it out of his sight, so even if it made for a chilly night, he broke camp by the riverside.

Finding firewood proved easy, at least. Ka had found an old fallen tree, picked one end up, and planted his boot in the middle. The tree broke in half with a crack that silenced the entire woods. With a sigh, he laid them on the ground next to his kindling. He then pulled a set of matches- each the size of a baseball bat- from his satchel. As he went about trying to get the wood alight, the forest grew silent all except for some creature down by the water.

A very small boat was shaking back and forth in the water as a large man yanked on the fishing line. Elihu jerked hard on the line, something big was on the other end, bigger than he could hold onto. The water splashed more vigorously as the fish or whatever it was fought back.

Elihu pulled once more with all his strength only to have the line snap. He fell overboard backwards with a mighty splash.

Ka didn't notice right away. Turtles would often jump off of logs into the water to avoid predators, that's probably what it was. Instead, he burned match after match trying to get the kindling aflame. When at last it did, he sighed, then thought for a minute. That had to have been an awfully big turtle, though….

The giant turned to find an empty boat floating down the river. Immediately, he got to his feet and started towards the riverbank. "No, I don't think that was a turtle after all," he said to himself. His boots sinking deep into the muddy shore, he scanned the water for any sign of life.

Elihu was no stranger to swimming. In fact he liked to take a short swim every once in a while. But his shoe was caught on something in the water and it's dark depths would not let him go.

He struggled and splashed about not unlike a drowning cat. The splashes and ruckus caught the giant's attention. 

At once, Ka waded out into the river, sending waves up along the shore. From where he stood, he could see a sunken tree, and what looked like a human beneath the water. Mud stirred up around the smaller creature, making it hard to see what was going on. As he approached, his own feet churned up another layer of mud, making the water too murky to tell what was going on.

He plunged his hands into the water and gently tugged on the body, but it was stuck fast to the tree. Not knowing how it was caught, he might break something if he just started yanking. The giant shook his head, "Hard way it is, then." Ka felt around in the water until he could get both hands under the trunk of the tree, then started to heave.

There was not much time left, but the tree was stuck under layer upon layer mud and rock. He adjusted his footing and pulled harder.Then something shifted beneath the waves, and the tree bagan to rise. Slowly, it came to the surface, bringing the person with it.

The person was gasping for breath as he was pulled out, up into the sky. He screamed, Sarbithian’s couldn't fly. This was not right. He wiggled and squirmed and finally noticed his feet. They were caught up in the roots of a tree. But wait, roots? He followed the roots up the trunk and finally saw something holding onto the tree. A giant hand.

Elihu was at a loss for words, his screams silenced. He stared at the bigger, upside down giant in awe.

Ka shifted the weight of the tree under his armpit, freeing his left hand. With it, he supported the person, taking the strain off of his caught foot, and keeping him from falling. He knit his brows together in worry. He was glad the boy's lungs were working well enough to scream, but at the same time… had he hurt him? "Are you okay?" He asked.

Elihu nodded slowly. He held on to his head. “Can, can you speak a bit quieter sir? Your voice is quite loud. And yes, I’m ok. Thank you for saving me.” 

Ka cocked his head. He'd never been called loud before. Maybe he'd forgotten himself in his nervousness. He smiled and softened his voice nonetheless. "Can you get your foot unstuck?" he murmured.

Elihu reached down to his feet and pulled on the thick branches around his foot. After a bit of maneuvering, he finally got his foot free. “Yes! Thank you again sir!” he shivered.

The giant grinned, showing teeth, "You are most welcome, child. I am Ka," he said. Again he forgot himself, and though he pulled Elihu out away from the tree, he let it drop. It crashed into the water, splashing up his backside. He grimaced, "Apologies. How are you called?" He asked as he waded out of the water.

“I’m Elihu. Thanks for saving my life there.” He still was quite worried about being so high off the ground, but that wasn’t about to stop his pleasantries. “Would you mind setting me back on the ground, please?”

"Of course, Elihu," Ka said, practicing the name. He set him down on a rock, then went back to gather the small boat, which was now caught in an overhanging branch. Cupping it in one hand, he headed back. It was then that he noticed something off about Elihu. Ka lowered his brow, "You're a bit big for a human, aren't you?" he asked, setting the boat on the shore beside him.

“I’m not a human, I’m a Sarbithian.”

Ka blinked. "A what?" He then glanced over at his campfire, which was gaining strength and was by now a nice bonfire. He shivered as a cold wind blew off the water. "Here, come over here and you can explain. I'm sure you're about to freeze to death, soaked as you are."

Elihu nodded with a shiver. "Yes sir, it was already quite cold today, and that water isn't the warmest either."

~~

The sarabithian stood far off as he gazed at the massive bonfire. Ka sat hunched over the flames and studied him. The firelight barely touched the boy. Now that the giant got a good look at him, he realized Elihu wasn't just bigger than a human, he was nearly twice the size. A giant in his own respect.

Still, for all his kindness and respect, Elihu still seemed on edge. Surely he was not afraid of him? Ka cleared his throat, "Is something wrong?" He asked.

Elihu shook his head. "N-no sir! I'm just very cold."

Ka blinked again, puzzled. "You could… get closer to the fire then," he said, trying his best not to sound rude. "You aren't afraid of me, are you? If so, I can back off, it's not a problem."

"I'm not afraid of you, you saved me. I'm afraid of that fire…" he nervously took a step back.

The giant returned his attention to the flames, still not quite sure what to do. "Well, I won't have you freezing," Ka said quietly. He thought for a moment. "Would a smaller fire be less frightening?"

Elihu took a small step forward. “All fire is frightening, but as long as we are by the water…” he glanced back at the river, “I suppose I could stand closer.” He timidly strode up closer to the fire.

"I find that the most effective ways to overcome a fear," Ka said as he watched the shivering sarabithian approach, "and I know a little bit about fears... is to simply be around them."

“Yes… I would agree, but… It’s still hard.” Elihu said as he sat on the ground about 6 feet away from the fire.

Ka nodded solemnly. "You have to be patient," he agreed. "Fire can kill you, yes, but so can water… as we nearly found. Yet it can be helpful, too. It can keep you warm, cook your food, or be a light in the darkness." He reached for his pack and started to rummage around in it. "Though fire doesn't have feelings."

“I know, Sir. And I know it’s a silly thing for me to be afraid of. But I just am.” Elihu pulled off the vest he was wearing and held it out in front of the fire. “I like to keep a close eye on it. I’ve had too many bad things happen when I’m not paying attention.”

Ka looked up from his satchel, reached out, and gingerly ruffled the boy's hair. "You'll get there," he said. If he were being honest, Elihu was quite easy to be around. He didn't have to worry quite as much about hurting him by accident. Even his personality- especially his personality- was a great comfort.

"It's okay to be afraid," said the giant, "I mean, a lot of people are afraid of me. But do you know something?" He said, returning his attention to his pack. He shrugged, "I'm afraid of humans sometimes."

Elihu chuckled, “Yeah, me too. They tend to get into all sorts of trouble.” He scooted a bit closer to the fire. He looked up at Ka. “So, what’s a super giant like you doing here?”

Ka blinked at the strange phrase but shrugged it off, "Being lost," he admitted. He got tired of digging and started pulling items out one by one, looking for something. He laid a pot, a pan, several small dishes, and a knife the size of Elihu along the ground beside him. "I don't suppose you know how to get to Benhyke?"

The large knife made Elihu a bit nervous, “B-benhyke? I’m not familiar with that name.” he kept his gaze on the fire though, that was more important at this moment.

Ka at last pulled a small, paper-covered rectangle from the bag. He shrugged, "Simon didn't seem to know where it was, either. I've been wandering around all day and every time I turn around, something changes. If it's some kind of magic, I may just have to wait 'till it wears off."

The smaller giant sorrowfully said, “magic isn’t real, I sure wish it was though...”

"It may not be here," he said, unwrapping the packet to reveal a cake of raisins. "If it isn't, I'm afraid we may never meet again."

"Would you like to come home for dinner? I'm sure Kavela's parents wouldn't mind. We were going to have a cookout outside tonight. As soon as I get the fish." Elihu paused. "Fish." He looked back at the river.

Ka grew silent, watching the fire. On one hand, a cooked meal sounded a lot better than a measly raisin cake, but on the other…. He looked down at the sarabithian and regarded him. The giant heaved a sigh. "Friend, I would love to, but I'm afraid with all that racket we made, there's not a single fish left in that river."

A deep sigh rumbled in his throat, Elihu nodded. "Yes, I suppose you are right. I'll tell the girls we aren't having fish tonight, but," Elihu touched his hand on Ka, "are you certain you do not wish to stay, friend?"

He shook his head, but offered a warm smile. "I appreciate the offer, but yes, I am sure. Go home and get yourself some dry clothes," Ka said, patting the smaller giant on the back. As Elihu left, he watched him go. As he waved goodbye, the figure shrank from the firelight, putting more distance between them than he perhaps realized. Though they never met again, Ka would often recall the boy he had met on the river between world and wonder.

End.